This book in the Kids Can Do It series features breezy wraps and terrific tote bags for the beach, neat trims for plain clothes or... a skirt made from worn-out jeans --- Simply Sewing has these and many other projects all stitched up! Includes sewing-machine basics, hand-sewing stitches and fabric facts. Step-by-step instructions with full-color illustrations and photos make it ?sew? simple! read more

In this informational picture book, award-winning author and illustrator Cybèle Young interweaves the science of animal eyesight i...nto a clever whodunit involving a haughty queen. It is during the Queen's Ball, at which ?society's most important nobility? are in attendance (all of whom are animals), that a ?major crime has been committed?: the queen's shadow has been stolen! Mantis Shrimp, the Royal Detective, takes the lead in the investigation to find the perpetrator, and one by one the animal suspects defend their innocence. From a shark and a snake to a dragonfly and a goat, each creature's testimony explains their version of the scene of the crime based on their own unique eyesight, while the finely textured and detailed artwork illustrates the ballroom as viewed by that animal. In sidebars to the story, the author provides factual information about how the eyesight of each animal works, and why. As each animal's perspective sheds new light on the mystery, it becomes clear to children that there are many different ways to see what goes on in the world. A section on how human vision works, background on each of the animals mentioned in the story and a glossary are provided at the back of the book. This is a unique and sophisticated book unlike any other. It would be an excellent resource for life science lessons on animal and human characteristics. The sly humor, engaging storytelling and layered narrative also make it a terrific mystery read. read more

This original, fun picture book delightfully describes, in hilarious detail, a small child's idea of utopia. Every two-page spread... offers something new about this fantasy life, including, ?If kids ruled the world, every day would be your birthday! Birthday cake would be good for you. Your doctor would say, 'Don't forget to eat your birthday cake so you'll grow up strong and healthy!'? And, ?You could go to any kind of school you like ... Circus School. Fairy School. Inventing School. Lots of kids would go to Recess School.? The topics that bestselling, award-winning author Linda Bailey has chosen are pitch-perfect for young children, from bedtime and baths (none!) to pets and tree houses (lots!). And illustrator David Huyck's detailed, brightly hued artwork is full of energy, joy and humor that gets right to the heart of a child's view of the world. While this is a book that would happily be enjoyed from cover to cover, it's not hard to envision an enthralled child spending long stretches of time daydreaming about one particular scenario. In the classroom, this book would make an excellent springboard for art projects or creative writing assignments that explore children's own unique image of the perfect world. Particularly gratifying is the emphasis throughout on sharing all the good things brought to life in a world of a child's own making. This book is a truly exuberant celebration of childhood, play and imagination. It's sure to become a classic. read more

A young boy wants to write a story, just like his big sister. But there's a problem, he tells her. Though he knows his letters, he... doesn't know many words. ?Every story starts with a single word and every word starts with a single letter,? his sister explains patiently. ?Why don't you start there, with a letter?? So the boy tries. He writes a letter. An easy letter. The letter I. And from that one skinny letter, the story grows, and the little boy discovers that all of us, including him, have what we need to write our own perfect story. This picture book from award-winning author Andrew Larsen playfully and imaginatively explores a young child's process of learning to express himself. It promotes the idea that stories are available for everyone to tell, whatever way we can, and will inspire pre-readers to try writing stories of their own. The lively, fun illustrations by Mike Lowery incorporate story panels with dialogue bubbles, adding visual texture. Also helpful, the boy's story is shown both as he actually writes it --- with just a few letters, some punctuation marks and typographical symbols --- and as he imagines it. Celebrating self-expression, self-discovery and imagination, this book would enhance an early language arts lesson on writing, particularly on the parts of a story. It beautifully highlights the exciting worlds that are opened up when children begin to read and write. In a sweet touch, the boy and his sister model a close and supportive sibling relationship. read more

A five-year-old boy has gone with his father to swing on his favorite swing near the woods. But while he's been having fun swingin...g, a huuuuuge monster has woken up nearby from a very long nap. The monster is ravenous, and there's only one thing that will satisfy its hunger: little children! At first, the monster has no luck as it searches the woods for food. Then, oh, no! The monster spies the little boy on the swing! But when the monster creeps closer and tries to scare the boy with its fierce cry, ?pruwwwahhahaha!? the boy isn't frightened at all. In fact, he only laughs at the monster and keeps swinging! Is the boy fearless? Or does he know something about this monster that we don't know? With humor and suspense, children will be on the edge of their seats listening to this lively picture book. Author Jean-Paul Mulders artfully tells the story using rhythmic language and fun monster sounds that children will love repeating aloud. The two-color illustrations by team Jacques Maes and Lise Braekers feature lots of busy forest scenes to keep readers guessing what might be ?out there? while, of course, never actually revealing the ?monster.? Small children delight in being spooked, and this book offers just the right amount of thrill, perfectly balanced with humor and the warmth of the relationship between the boy and his father. read more

Armed with Get Outside, a kid will never say, ?I'm bored!? again. This book is a key to the world of fun beyond the front door. Ac...tivities are divided into four categories (Nature Lover, Outdoor Fun and Games, Cozy Inside and Look to the Sky), where readers will find instructions for making things like sundials, bird feeders and kites, as well as rules for games such as 500 Up, Spud and Shinny. Accompanying these descriptions are fun facts and scientific, historic and cultural context. The passage on playing jacks, for example, includes a sidebar about a similar game played by the ancient Greeks. Children in Northern climes will love learning to play traditional First Nations winter games and be thrilled to find out how to create a backyard ice rink. It's a wealth of fun and fascination that will captivate any young person --- who won't mind ditching the video game for the great outdoors. read more

Using nuts, bolts, washers and other odds and ends, kids can create all kinds of funky doodads in this book in the Kids Can Do It ...series. The helpful hardware shopping guide, tool tips and simple-to-follow directions guarantee kids will hit the nail on the head with each of these cool projects! read more

After a thump-bumping ride on a slide, a little girl and her dragon friend find themselves inside a fairy-tale book. The stories a...re familiar, and there's lots of silly fun as the dragon is transformed into fairy-tale characters. But danger lurks in the form of strangers -- including the hungry wolf from "Little Red Riding Hood" and Snow White's evil stepmother. And it's up to the girl to keep an eye on the dragon, who walks alone through deep dark woods and takes treats from people he doesn't know. Little by little, the girl teaches her irrepressible friend to be careful about strangers. The winning combination of fairy-tale adventure and concrete safety information -- including the Dragon's Stranger Safety Rhyme and the checklist of rules at the end of the book -- provide the perfect starting point for discussions with children about stranger safety. read more

From sunup to sweet dreams, this collection of Robert Heidbreder's lively short poems follows young children throughout their day,... celebrating all of the seemingly small, but potentially special, moments they experience. To name just a few, there are poems about hugging a dog and climbing a tree, getting dressed and playing tag. Each one of the thirty poems is easy to remember, rhythmic and action-filled, and each reflects a child's-eye view of both the activity and how it makes them feel. For example, on teeth brushing: ?Bristle-thistle. Toothy rub. Chompers get a sun-up scrub. Smile!? Or going to bed: ?Slip-in slide. Pillow pile. Stuffies near. Day-done smile. Ahhhhh!? Most of the poems are written and illustrated on their own page, with a few poems covering two-page spreads. Lori Joy Smith's simple artwork, in pleasing colors and filled with playful children, is cheerful, fresh and contemporary, and will have enormous appeal to young children. This book would be a natural fit for National Poetry Month in April. But the poems are so happy and engaging, they could easily begin any day in the classroom as a delightful read-aloud, or even as a tool for dramatizations. The fun rhymes are sure to get young minds engaged in the wonderful world of words, making them excited about language, reading and poetry. And emphasizing the importance of the regular routines of their days, starting and ending in bed, offers the potential for beginning to understand their place in their families and the larger community around them. read more

In this delightful picture book, award-winning author and illustrator Marianne Dubuc retells the biblical story of the ark voyage ...from the animals' perspective. It begins with a light rain in the animal kingdom that turns heavier and steadier until all the land is flooded. The animals are huddled together atop a hill, the only dry spot left, when they spy a boat coming toward them. Rescue! The smiling captain, Mr. Noah, invites them to board, two by two. At first, the animals enjoy settling in and finding ways to amuse themselves --- the sheep play leapfrog, the ladybugs play dominoes, a chameleon plays hide-and-seek. But as it continues to rain, and rain, and rain, things grow testy below deck. The animals are getting on one another's nerves. And all of them are wondering, will the rain ever stop? With sweet, warm illustrations, this is a creative and child-friendly version of the well-known journey story. The playful animal drawings are filled with details and sly jokes, making them great fun for children to spend time with. This book makes a wonderful read-aloud, either for its connection to the biblical tale or merely as a lighthearted animal story. With the focus on how the different species fare individually and together, it would also work as an exploration of animals and their unique behaviors. It could easily spark discussions about how children might use cooperation, respect and kindness in trying circumstances as well. read more

This engaging wordbook offers a primer for young children on the essential words and phrases associated with twenty-three differen...t sports. From badminton to volleyball, each on their own two-page spread, readers can peruse the vocabulary words to explore how the sport is played, what equipment is required, what athletes wear and the like. For example, included on the football spread are ?touchdown pass,? ?end zone? and ?helmet.? For swimming, there are ?goggles,? ?lane markers? and ?crawl.? The illustrations, in bright primary colors, also provide a quick tutorial on the basics of each sport. Humorous asides and silly dialogue throughout add to the book's overall lively and amusing feel. For example, a golf ball inside an alligator's mouth becomes an ?unplayable ball.? And a diver leaping off the highest platform comments, ?What a view!? Also in keeping with the light tone of the book, there's a spread in the middle called Halftime, which features searching and counting activities. Award-winning illustrator Benoit Tardif cleverly imparts the sense of fun involved in playing sports, along with lots of useful information. This is a book that will be pored over by small children, each looking for their own favorite sport or trying to learn more about new ones. The short descriptions of the included sports and the glossary at the back of the book mean it also works in physical education lessons for young pre-readers up to the early elementary grades read more

It's a band of animated skeletons versus daring children in this rhyming Halloween picture book tale, told in delightful nonsense ...language. Here the children are ?tyke-tots? and the adults ?tall-bigs,? while the skeletons are called ?SKUL-A-MUG-MUGS.? As the story begins, the SKUL-A-MUG-MUGS descend on a small, quiet town on Halloween night. ?They ring-ruckled round, enclupping the town, with quake-quiver-up and scree-scrackle down.? The SKUL-A-MUG-MUGS have a plan to keep the children from trick-or-treating. ?We'll brain-frizz tall-bigs.Halloween they'll deep nix. They'll shup-clup insidenasty Noras and Nicks!? But the children decide to take matters into their own hands. ?Thrickle! and thrackle! Thinder-a-thray!SKUL-A-MUG-MUGS,we'll splook you away!? What ensues is a fun, spirited fight to the finish, as naturally the children outwit and out-frighten the old SKUL-A-MUG-MUGS so the trick-or-treating can commence once again! In this one-of-a-kind book, award-winning author and children's poet Robert Heidbreder has imagined an empowering story about a chaotic world where the adults are terrified and the children take over to save the day --- and the candy, of course. The silly and spooky madness is delightfully illustrated with irresistible artwork by award-winning John Martz. This is sure to be a hands-down favorite as a read-aloud --- for all ages --- during the Halloween season or anytime fun wordplay is called for. It makes a fabulous language arts introduction to rhyming poetry that will surely inspire children to create their own made-up words and stories. Separately, it can also work for social studies discussions about cultural celebrations such as Halloween that focus on images and tales of the dead. read more

Each of King Neptune's 50 mermaid daughters boasts a special talent, except for little Minnow, who seems to be good only at asking... questions. When she finds a strange object, Minnow follows her questions to a wondrous place and finds answers, including the answer to the most important question of all: Who am I? A gorgeously illustrated story about finding one's purpose. read more

Youngsters are endlessly fascinated by animals, so what better way to teach them about the basic concepts? Wild animals from aroun...d the world showcase all 26 letters of the alphabet in this board book from the Learning with Animals series --- perfect for little hands. read more

When a young girl named Kikko realizes her father has forgotten the pie he was supposed to bring to Grandma's house, she offers to... try and catch him as he makes his way through the woods. She hurriedly follows her father's footprints in the snow and happens upon a large house she has never seen before. Curious, Kikko peers through the window, when she is startled by a small lamb wearing a coat and carrying a purse. Even more surprising, the lamb speaks, asking her in a kind voice, ?Are you here for the tea party?? Suddenly, Kikko realizes her trip through the woods has turned into something magical. Award-winning author and illustrator Akiko Miyakoshi has beautifully crafted an original fairy tale picture book that will delight and enchant. The unique visual presentation features mostly black-and-white art with the occasional use of red or yellow to help guide readers through the pages. Kikko's blend of courage and reticence along with her inquisitive nature makes her a character children will relate to, and the many unexpected twists and turns of her adventure keep the intrigue growing. The ambiguous ending --- in which it is not clear whether Kikko imagined the tea party or if the animals simply disappeared back into the woods --- provides a terrific opportunity for children to weigh in on what they think happened. This book also could launch classroom conversations about children's own experiences of being trusted with big responsibilities. read more

After wandering down a hall and discovering a scattered assortment of clothes, ten birds were shocked to spot a scary monster! Wha...t were they to do? Grabbing a piece of clothing as a disguise, ?the first bird, always inventive, became a Vicious Polka-dactyl. But the monster didn't budge.? So the second bird, then the third bird, and so on, followed in turn, each adding some clothing to the mix to devise a new, frightening creature. But no matter that the birds were ?resourceful,? ?attentive,? ?creative? and ?eager to participate,? or that they created fantastically scary beings such as a Gnashing Grapplesaurus, a Bristling Fang-Mangler and a Slimy Long-toed Zapper --- the monster would not be chased away. Until the tenth bird stepped forward, the one who was ?always easily distracted.? Could this be the bird who finally, and surprisingly, saved the day? This gorgeous picture book by award-winning author-illustrator Cybèle Young is perfect for counting and early numeracy lessons. Each of the numbers from one to ten gets its own spread, featuring two pieces of intricately detailed pen-and-ink illustrations. The smaller illustration incorporates the numeral into the drawing itself, while the larger one offers the opportunity to search for and count all the birds within the growing clothes monster. Filled with silliness, suspense and a terrific reveal at the end, this clever, funny story is also a wonderful read-aloud. It highlights how individual resourcefulness and creativity are magnified by the power of cooperation and teamwork. read more

Come one, come all to the animal masquerade! The lion is going as an elephant, the elephant as a parrot, and the parrot as a turtl...e! Each costume gives way to another, yielding new surprises on every page, and revealing a menagerie of familiar and unusual animals. Young children will delight in the absurd and amusing images (who wouldn't love a ladybug dressed as a hippopotamus?) and will also appreciate the gags (a fish costumed as a cat is dubbed a ?catfish?) and other bits of silly sweetness. Recapping this reading adventure: a detailed panorama at book's end, showing all the party guests in their fanciful finery. read more

This compilation of three, short, cozy stories features a little girl named Lucy and her four animal friends: Marcel the mouse, He...nry the rabbit, Dot the turtle and Adrian the snail. (Anton the bear also makes two surprise appearances!) Readers will be delighted to spend time in Lucy's world, as the friends share snacks on a picnic, celebrate a special birthday with a treasure hunt and find a new home for some lost baby chicks. Told with sweet humor and simple language, each of the bite-size stories contains its own complete adventure --- with an unexpected twist at the end! All stories are centered on the small, simple moments of the friends' days together, just what matters most to very young children. In a nod to Winnie-the-Pooh and its map of Hundred Acre Wood, a full spread at the beginning of the book features a bird's-eye view drawing that captures Lucy's world and shows where the stories take place, adding depth to the narrative. Award-winning artist Marianne Dubuc has created a perfectly charming storytime book that hits all the right notes. Her artwork, with its soft and subdued palette, beautifully captures the book's warmth. She presents her illustrations within panels, encouraging visual literacy and making the text easy to follow for pre-readers. This positive book explores key social skills for this age such as sharing, discovering new friends and helping others, making it a terrific fit for character education lessons on kindness, empathy and caring. Other classroom connections are introductions to counting and following step-by-step directions. read more

Holiday toy trends for kids come and go, but there are a bunch of products on Amazon this year that we predict will remain popular for years to come. And with Black Friday deals around the corner and Cyber Monday sales hot on their heels, we expect shopping to reach peak levels earlier than ever. So get ready to stock up on the best Christmas toys now! Iconic brands like Nerf and LEGO were at the top of the list last year, but save room in your shopping cart for the latest and best new kids toys, from Fingerlings to Hatchimals to L.O.L. Surprise and more. Check out our favorite toys to buy from Amazon below.

As this informational picture book by award-winning author Etta Kaner begins, sportscasters Walrus and Cockatoo are setting the st...age: ?Welcome to the World Animal Games --- that's WAG for short. Top athletes from habitats around the world will be competing for the gold! Exciting, isn't it, Cockatoo?? Along with some comic relief, the pair then provide the play-by-play for the seven sporting events covered in the book. With a total of twenty-eight animals competing, each event, from high jump to weight lifting and swimming, pits a different group of four against one another. Readers are given ?stats? for each competitor and are invited to guess who will win. Then they turn the page and find out who won and, importantly, why. They also learn how the winner compares, proportionally, to the best human achievement in that skill. Besides the funny, wisecracking banter between Walrus and Cockatoo, further entertainment is provided in the lively illustrations by David Anderson, as well as in the silly puns. For example, a chicken calls out, ?Foul play!? while a goat exclaims, ?You've got to be kidding!? This book will be hugely appealing to those children who love to learn facts about the strongest, highest and fastest. In the classroom, it's a perfect introduction to science lessons on living things and their characteristics, with the interactive guessing element a great way to keep children engaged. It also works as a read-aloud during major sporting events such as the Olympics. read more

Wetlands are home to amazing animals whose bodies are built for living in or near the water. Hippos, crocodiles and anacondas all ...have special ways of finding food, staying safe and raising their young in a watery habitat.The Who Lives Here? series looks at animals in their natural habitats - rain forests, polar regions, deserts and wetlands - and explains how the body and habits of each animal are suited to the place it lives. Charming, realistic illustrations, playful language and intriguing facts make these books a perfect read for young children. read more

In this clearly written look at the two main groups of owls --- typical owls and barn owls --- kids will find out where owls live,... what they eat, how young owls learn and much more. The easy-to-read text and accurate, detailed illustrations of this title in the Kids Can Press Wildlife Series meet the research needs of young children and satisfy their curiosity about these mysterious birds. read more

?There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who were the best of friends, though they often disagreed.? So when the three friends... go canoeing together one sunny day, it doesn't take long for them to start quarreling with one another. First, they can't decide who should get to steer the canoe. Later, they debate how best to get across a beaver dam that blocks their way. But when they can't agree on the proper course for maneuvering through the white-water rapids they suddenly find themselves in, the consequences become truly perilous. It takes a long, uncomfortable night spent stranded on a rock to remind the bear, the moose and the beaver what they often forget: everything turns out better when they work together as a team. As with his other popular books in the Life in the Wild series, featuring these three lovable animal characters, author-illustrator Nicholas Oldland has created a funny romp of a picture book adventure for young children that will be a favorite choice in the classroom. Oldland's distinctive, simple and playful artwork tells much of the tale on its own, with lots of visual humor in the characters' facial expressions and the numerous asides throughout. At its core, this is a fun, contemporary fable that champions the importance of teamwork, cooperation and communication while also promoting the joys to be found in nature, specifically the wilder parts of the outdoors. This book could serve as an introduction to discussions on animals and their environments in the early grades as well. read more

This clever picture book tells readers right away what to expect. ?There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who loved adventure.... But sometimes their competitive natures got in the way of having fun.? One day, the three set off to climb a mountain together. But on the way there, they decide to make it more exciting by turning the climb into a race to the top. It's only after being sidelined by a series of mishaps --- a boulder tumbling down the path, the moose hanging off the side of the cliff, the bear hanging off the moose hanging off the side of the cliff --- that the three friends realize competitions don't always make for a good time. ?At the end of the day, the bear, the moose and the beaver agreed that reaching the top of the mountain was great, but enjoying the journey together was even better.? This funny, contemporary fable is from Nicholas Oldland's popular Life in the Wild series. The wonderful fun here is the comedy that highlights the adventure, in both the dry humor of the text as well as the simple, earth-toned illustrations that provide a humorous visual play-by-play of the action. This would make a terrifically entertaining storytime title, easily promoting the importance of teamwork, kindness and friendship. It could also be used in the early grades as part of a classroom discussion of woodland animals and their habitats. Another lesson here is the pleasure of getting outdoors for recreation. read more

From the creator of Big Bear Hug comes the comic-adventure story of a mild-mannered moose who learns how to take life by the antle...rs. This moose may live in the wild, but he doesn't act it --- he watches from the sidelines as his friends have fun. Every now and then, he wonders if he's missing out on anything.When the moose finally takes a chance and goes on a solo sailing trip, a raging storm carries him far from everything he knows. Will he curl up in a ball and cry, or make the most of it? The moose's unlikely hero-journey is a lighthearted, contemporary fable that celebrates living life to the fullest. read more

Innovations in the world of robotics are multiplying, with many cutting-edge breakthroughs, and this exciting and timely new book ...for young readers explores one particularly intriguing area: the world of robo-animals, or zoobots. In an attempt to design robots that can solve problems or perform tasks that humans can't, or just can't do easily, roboticists have been looking at the unique skills some animals have. Using something called mechatronics --- mechanical and electrical engineering combined with computer science --- they are finding ways to closely mirror those skills in robot form. Some fascinating examples from the book of what zoobots can do include: finding survivors of a fire using sensitive, computerized ?whiskers?; scaling skyscraper walls using super stickiness; or delivering drugs deep within the human body using microscopic whiptails for locomotion. Twelve zoobots are described, each on its own two-page spread.Award-winning children's author Helaine Becker's text is comprehensive, yet clear and lively, and is made more manageable by being broken up into shorter segments. The futuristic design of the book includes vivid, detailed color illustrations by Alex Ries, of both the zoobot prototypes as well as the animals from which their skills were derived. This imaginative and interesting nonfiction book will definitely capture the imaginations of technology buffs. It also has enormous potential for classroom use in exploring everything from basic technology and robots, to engineering concepts, to inventions. A glossary and an index make it work well as a wonderful reference tool. read more

?This is the first time I'm taking the bus by myself. Mom packed me a snack --- and had me bring my sweater in case I get cold.? B...ut Mom likely didn't imagine the adventure her little girl would have as she rides to her grandmother's house in this sweet picture book. While the bus is taking her down the streets, through a forest and into a pitch-black tunnel, the little girl encounters an assortment of animal characters who enliven her journey, including a goat who offers her a flower from a bouquet, a wolf child with whom she happily shares her cookies and a fox who attempts to pickpocket a beaver. Adding to the fun are lots of running visual gags, such as the changing headlines on the newspaper that hides one passenger's face, a sleeping sloth who mysteriously appears in different seats without ever having woken up and a nervous-looking turtle whose head and arms pop in and out of its shell. The interior of the bus covers each two-page spread, and award-winning author-illustrator Marianne Dubuc uses subtle colors and tiny details to draw in youngsters to the activity happening there. This book offers a potentially multilayered classroom reading experience: there is the terrific main story of the girl's trip, but there are also any number of mini stories playing out at the same time with each of the other characters. It would work beautifully as a jumping-off point for children to do some imaginary storytelling of their own. read more

While out for a walk with her mom, a little girl has the surprise of her life -- she meets a real, live, fire-breathing dragon! No...w this dragon is nothing to be afraid of -- in fact, he's so friendly that she invites him home for tea. But their afternoon snack is suddenly interrupted when the dragon sneezes and sets the table ablaze. Luckily, the girl knows just what to do, and she teaches her new friend to be fire smart, too. With its funny, rhyming verse and spunky illustrations, Dragons for Tea shows kids that learning about fire safety doesn't have to be scary. The story ends with "The Dragon's Fire Safety Rhyme" -- a fun and easy way to remember what to do in case of fire. read more

?When he was born, Little Pea was tiny. Teeny-tiny.? His clothes were hand sewn by his mother and his shoes were hand-me-down doll... shoes. As he grew older, Little Pea enjoyed climbing tomato plants, driving around in his wind-up car and riding on the backs of grasshoppers. But then Little Pea started school. And he suddenly realized just how small he was. Too small for his chair. Too small to play the flute. Too small for gym class. What would become of wee Little Pea?This picture book story by internationally renowned children's author Davide Cali is a graceful and beautifully told contemporary fable about an unconventional hero. As Little Pea finds a place for himself in the world despite his perceived disadvantage, he becomes a champion for younger siblings, small children and all those who are differently abled. By using ingenuity to overcome challenges, Little Pea empowers children to do the same, which makes this book a terrific choice for a character education lesson focusing on perseverance or resilience. It also works for conversations on self-acceptance and individuality or on creativity (Little Pea is an artist). The idea of tiny worlds is enormously appealing to young children, and Sébastien Mourrain's imaginative scenes depicting Little Pea's miniature life will draw readers in with their funny, clever details. read more

Imagine that you are afraid, but instead of running and yelling for help, you pretend to be a stick. That's how an inchworm defend...s itself! Animal Defenses reveals the unique ways in which animals protect themselves. Easy-to-do experiments and activities explain the tricks animals use to help them survive. With stunning, realistic illustrations, this book is an innovative approach to understanding animal life. Containing lots of interesting facts, activities and easy-to-do experiments, this title in the Animal Behavior series takes a resourceful approach to exploring animal life. read more

Dr. Archibald Coo, an erudite big-city pigeon, is tired of the way people treat him and the other pigeons. They're always being sh...ooed and swatted, and they're never admired the way the other birds are. As Dr. Coo tells his pigeon friends: ?It wasn't always this way.? In ancient times, pigeons were known to accompany the gods. They brought news of the Olympic Games to all of ancient Greece. And more recently, they delivered messages and medicine to soldiers on battlefields. They were heroes! Surely, Dr. Coo reasons, pigeons can find a way to earn the admiration of people once again. And he's got just the bold plan to do it. Award-winning journalist Sarah Hampson's picture book debut is a celebration of the diversity inherent in a big city and a lesson on how looking for the good in others is the best way to get along with them. Through her activist pigeons, she offers a child-friendly example of how to affect change, and shows how cooperation and compromise are the keys for diverse groups to harmoniously coexist --- a topical subject. With soft lines and a warm palette, Kass Reich's illustrations bring a fresh pigeon's-eye perspective to New York's inhabitants and cityscapes. This book could be used to spark classroom discussions on respecting differences, working out disagreements, or stepping up to counter injustice, all important subjects for the budding self-awareness and personal development of young children. It also aligns with character education lessons on self-respect, initiative and inclusiveness. read more

A huge bear is wandering through the forest - but wait a minute! Who's that he's hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a... tree?Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesn't feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest.The environmental message of Big Bear Hug is both funny and powerful, while simple enough to engage very young children and show them the awesome power of a hug. read more

A huge bear is wandering through the forest - but wait a minute! Who's that he's hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a... tree?Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesn't feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest.The environmental message of Big Bear Hug is both funny and powerful, while simple enough to engage very young children and show them the awesome power of a hug. read more

Reader, don't waste your time with this book. ?You might as well stick it back on the shelf,? the narrator warns. ?Or toss it unde...r your bed. You don't need to read it because it looks like nothing happens in this book.? But, wait, he's spotted something. There's a trumpet without a trumpeter. And there's a tiny car without a driver. And a baton without a twirler. Maybe if you keep turning the pages, you'll find out who is missing these items. Maybe they are all together, getting ready to do something awesome. Maybe something amazing does happen in this book after all!The text and visual narrative work hand in hand in this playful, page-turning meta picture book, encouraging children to join in on the quest to find the seemingly missing story. By speaking directly to readers, Judy Ann Sadler's intriguing story piques their curiosity, and award-winning Vigg's quirky, humorous illustrations slowly reveal hints about the story that allow readers to piece together the mystery before the narrator does. This book makes for an engaging read-aloud that invites enthusiastic audience participation. The question underlying all the fun --- what elements are needed for a story? --- couples nicely with classroom story-building and writing exercises. In a special touch, the busy parade at the end of the book appears on a gatefold spread. read more

As soon as she arrives at school, Kitty knows there's trouble. ?Smiling Miss Seabrooke should be here to meet me. But my teacher i...s missing and NOT here to greet me.? With no Miss Seabrooke, everyone should be sent home, right? But no! Kitty and her classmates line up as usual and walk into the school building. Kitty's worries build as she wonders how she will get through the day without her teacher. What will she do when her Thermos gets stuck or her jacket won't zip? Miss Seabrooke is the only one who can fix these things. Or is she? Author Lana Button perfectly captures the fears and uncertainties of a kindergartner dealing with her first substitute teacher. She also models a way to cope, as Kitty steps up to help the substitute --- a ?ginormously tall? giraffe named Mr. Omar --- and discovers that sometimes change can be good. Button's playful and lively cadenced rhyming text, together with Christine Battuz's friendly illustrations of a full cast of animal characters at school, make this a terrific picture book for story time. It provides an excellent lead-in to prepare a class for their first substitute, or for a discussion about how it feels when life doesn't go as expected. A celebration of self-discovery and personal development, this book also makes a wonderful choice for character education lessons on kindness, empathy and perseverance. Educators will appreciate the heartfelt depiction of a young child's warm feelings for her teachers. read more

In this title in the Animal Behavior series, kids will find out which animals hibernate and why, the difference between true hiber...nators and deep sleepers, where animals hibernate, what happens while they hibernate, and much more. Whether to avoid extreme weather, conserve energy or survive on meager resources, animals hibernate in some unexpected ways. Packed with illustrations, facts, activities and easy-to-do experiments, Animals Hibernating is an innovative approach to understanding animal life. read more

Meet a fish that flies, a frog that climbs trees and a bird that flies backward! Whether it's to escape danger, seek shelter or lo...ok for food, animals move in many amazing ways. This title in the Animal Behavior series contains facts, activities and easy-to-do experiments to show kids how animals walk, run, glide, fly, slither and jump. With stunning, realistic illustrations, Animals in Motion is an innovative approach to understanding animal life. read more

Hotel Fantastic is a destination like no other. From superheroes and dragons to monsters and aliens --- everyone is welcome. Wheth...er you're a robot needing to recharge or a giant looking for extra legroom, the suites here are designed to cater to each guest's needs. Feeling hungry? Dine at the hotel's world-famous restaurant among princesses and pirates. Need a workout? A fully equipped gym and rooftop swimming pool serve beings of all shapes and sizes. And rest assured that your safety and security are a top priority --- an elite strike team is always at the ready. Pay no attention to the rumors you may have heard --- there's certainly no horrible creature threatening to attack the hotel at any moment ...Thomas Gibault's wild picture book invites children into a fantastic world filled with unexpected characters. The rich, bright, one-of-a-kind illustrations are laugh-out-loud funny and encourage visual literacy --- there's something different and new to discover with every perusal. And the surprising twist ending will inspire repeat readings as children search for clues sprinkled throughout the story. Based on the vivid imagination of one boy, this is a book that beautifully showcases the wonders of imaginative play and encourages play-based learning. Also, many young children will identify with the boy's antagonistic relationship with his sister. read more

In this fun informational picture book, children can test their knowledge of birds, one body part at a time. ?What bird has eyes l...ike this?? asks a spread showing a close-up illustration of the body part without revealing the rest of the bird's body. ?A bald eagle!? answers the following spread, which features an illustration of the whole bird in its habitat, along with intriguing information about its unique body part and what makes it special. Eight birds in all are featured, along with another eight on an additional spread at the back of the book.This entertaining addition to the popular Head to Tail series is a perfect for read-aloud. It features eight fascinating birds from around the world --- including the kiwi, blue-footed booby and arctic tern --- with an additional eight birds described and illustrated in the back matter. Striking cut-paper collage illustrations by Kwanchai Moriya make the books in this series visual standouts and add to their appeal. With fun facts about each bird's special features, characteristics and habitat, this title has direct applications to the second-grade life science curriculum on the physical characteristics and habitats of living things. And the guessing game component offers a terrific opportunity for critical thinking and reasoning. read more

The rain forest is home to amazing animals whose bodies are built for living among the tall trees and lush green plants. Toucans, ...emerald tree boas and jaguars all have special ways of finding food, staying safe and raising their young in a warm, wet tropical forest.The Who Lives Here? series looks at animals in their natural habitats - rain forests, polar regions, deserts and wetlands - and explains how the body and habits of each animal are suited to the place it lives. Charming, realistic illustrations, playful language and intriguing facts make these books a perfect read for young children. read more